$200 Million For Oil And Gas An Affront To The Youth Of Aotearoa
'The government's budget announcement to use $200 million of taxpayers money to subsidise the oil and gas industry while we are in the middle of a climate crisis is completely out of touch with the global scientific community's call for drastic action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions' says Urs Signer, from the community group Climate Justice Taranaki.
'It is obvious that MPs like Shane Jones and our local New Plymouth MP David McLeod are stuck in the dark ages when it comes to taking urgent action on climate change and have demonstrated once again that they do not understand that there is no economy on a dead planet. For decades, the neoliberal agenda of resource extraction to accumulate more and more wealth for the rich and powerful has driven us into what is now called the sixth mass extinction. Driven by corporate greed, Jones, McLeod and the current government are quite happy to sacrifice the future of a liveable climate for coming generations for short-term profits for their mates in the oil and gas industry. It is an absolute affront to the youth of Aotearoa that this government is happily throwing their future away for fleeting economic gain.'
'We all know the fossil fuel industry has no future. The government needs to get real and invest in transition jobs like Jobs For Nature, rural health clinics, sustainable timber milling for local markets and fossil-free technology for small-scale local agriculture.'
'We will also be organising against Todd Energy's new application to explore for oil and gas off the coast of Kawhia or the government's proposed new offshore wells near Maui.'
'Climate Justice Taranaki has been holding weekly Friday pickets outside oil and gas giants like OMV, Beach and Todd Energy in New Plymouth to highlight our community's opposition to their agenda of drilling us into extinction. We will keep pushing back against this government's mining agenda. Seabed mining, oil and gas drilling and coal extraction have no future in Aotearoa' concludes Signer.
To join the Fossil Fool Fridays for Future pickets, meet 8am on Gill St outside oil and gas miners: OMV, Todd and Beach Energy with a banner or placard. The picket will visit the ANZ bank afterwards due to their investment in Bathurst Resources coal mining in the South Island.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
NZ's natural gas supply running out faster than thought
Shane Jones. Photo: RNZ The country's natural gas supply is running out faster than previously thought. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment said previous forecasts showed annual gas production falling below 100 petajoules (PJ) by 2029, but revised forecasts indicated that level would be reached by next year. A petajoule or PJ is a unit measurement of energy use commonly used for large-scale energy use, with one petajoule equal to one million billion joules. MBIE also said as of January this year, natural gas reserves were down 27% compared to last year - also falling faster than previously estimated. "In 2024, natural gas proven plus probable (2P) reserves reduced from 1300 PJ to 948 PJ," MBIE head of data service delivery Karlene Tipler said. "The reduction in natural gas reserves is largely driven by field operators reducing their estimates of gas readily extractable in the ground by 234 PJ." MBIE said contingent gas reserves, or gas that existed in the ground but could not be extracted for various reasons such as economic or technical, increased by 184 PJ or 10% on last year. "Some of this increase can be attributed to natural gas reserves being downgraded to contingent resources," Tipler said. "A significant contributor to this is Pohokura field, which included a large volume of contingent gas which had previously not been reported." Tipler said some contingent gas may have the potential to be upgraded to 2P if there were changes to economic or technical conditions. Government says data proves it's 'correct to act now' Resources Minister Shane Jones said the decline in gas reserves was a "stark reminder" of why the government was seeking greater investment in exploration and production. "New Zealand needs a secure supply of affordable and reliable gas for industry to continue and for Kiwis to keep the lights on," Jones said. "A 27% year-on-year decline in our natural gas reserves is further proof that the Coalition Government has made the right decisions in overturning the oil and gas ban, and is willing to become a cornerstone investor in gas production," he said. As part of Budget 2025, the Government announced $200 million over four years for co-investment in new domestic gas field developments.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Gas Data Proves Government Correct To Act Now
Hon Shane Jones Minister for Resources New figures released today showing a decline in New Zealand's gas reserves is a stark reminder why the Government is taking decisive action to bolster the industry and seek more investment in exploration and production, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. 'New Zealand needs a secure supply of affordable and reliable gas – for industry to continue and for Kiwis to keep the lights on. A 27 percent year on year decline in our natural gas reserves is further proof that the Coalition Government has made the right decisions in overturning the oil and gas ban, and is willing to become a cornerstone investor in gas production,' Mr Jones says. 'We simply cannot allow the de-industrialisation of New Zealand to continue. Our manufacturing sector, particularly in the regions, which rely on gas are at the mercy of the market. Rising gas prices are putting increasing pressure on manufacturers and are harming the competitiveness of our businesses, risking their viability. 'As an island nation we should be taking full advantage of our indigenous gas reserves to power our homes and businesses. The idea that we could transition to 100 percent renewable energy without the back-up of any kind of thermal energy is as naïve as it is unattainable. 'That's why the Government has made some bold decisions about how we can arrest the impending degradation of our energy system. It is not too late to turn around our fortunes in this area. 'The Government has committed, through Budget 2025, $200 million over four years for Crown co-investment in new domestic gas field developments. This funding will allow the Government to take a commercial stake of up to 15 percent in new gas projects that feed the domestic market, helping to reduce sovereign risk and attract offshore investment. 'As well as removing the exploration ban, the Crown Minerals Amendment Bill which comes back before the House soon, better balances the regulatory burden and risk of decommissioning and gives the regulator more flexibility in how exploration permits are issued, giving the sector confidence to get to work.' Other action the Government has taken includes the Investment Boost policy announced in the Budget.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
$200 Million For Oil And Gas An Affront To The Youth Of Aotearoa
Press Release – Climate Justice Taranaki Driven by corporate greed, Jones, McLeod and the current government are quite happy to sacrifice the future of a liveable climate for coming generations for short-term profits for their mates in the oil and gas industry, says Urs Signer, from the community … 'The government's budget announcement to use $200 million of taxpayers money to subsidise the oil and gas industry while we are in the middle of a climate crisis is completely out of touch with the global scientific community's call for drastic action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions' says Urs Signer, from the community group Climate Justice Taranaki. 'It is obvious that MPs like Shane Jones and our local New Plymouth MP David McLeod are stuck in the dark ages when it comes to taking urgent action on climate change and have demonstrated once again that they do not understand that there is no economy on a dead planet. For decades, the neoliberal agenda of resource extraction to accumulate more and more wealth for the rich and powerful has driven us into what is now called the sixth mass extinction. Driven by corporate greed, Jones, McLeod and the current government are quite happy to sacrifice the future of a liveable climate for coming generations for short-term profits for their mates in the oil and gas industry. It is an absolute affront to the youth of Aotearoa that this government is happily throwing their future away for fleeting economic gain.' 'We all know the fossil fuel industry has no future. The government needs to get real and invest in transition jobs like Jobs For Nature, rural health clinics, sustainable timber milling for local markets and fossil-free technology for small-scale local agriculture.' 'We will also be organising against Todd Energy's new application to explore for oil and gas off the coast of Kawhia or the government's proposed new offshore wells near Maui.' 'Climate Justice Taranaki has been holding weekly Friday pickets outside oil and gas giants like OMV, Beach and Todd Energy in New Plymouth to highlight our community's opposition to their agenda of drilling us into extinction. We will keep pushing back against this government's mining agenda. Seabed mining, oil and gas drilling and coal extraction have no future in Aotearoa' concludes Signer. To join the Fossil Fool Fridays for Future pickets, meet 8am on Gill St outside oil and gas miners: OMV, Todd and Beach Energy with a banner or placard. The picket will visit the ANZ bank afterwards due to their investment in Bathurst Resources coal mining in the South Island.
